Rural-free-delivery mail-box.



J. E. SHINN.

RURAL FREE DELIVERY MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR-11' 19 16.

Patented Jul 10, 1917.

gvwentoz 61 lite-neg FFIQFZ.

JAMES E. SHINE, 0F CONYVAY SPRINGS, KANSAS.

RURAL-FREE-DELIVERY MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 1%, 1217.

Application filed April 11, 1916. Serial No. 90,401.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES E. SHINN, a resident of Conway Springs, in the county of Sumner and State of Kansas, have 111- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Rural-Free-Delivery Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that all of the important features of this mail box are my own invention, and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boxes or receptacles for mail matter and particularly to that class of such boxes or receptacles adapted for use in rural free delivery.

The general object of the invention is to provide a mail box of the character spec1- fied of economical construction and in creased utility.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a mail box with improved means whereby the door may be readily opened to the right or left, and the signal displayed in a plurality of positions, and both door and signal be secured in any positions to which they may be moved.

I have illustrated an approved embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents my improved box in perspective, mounted on a post, showing the door closed, in full lines, and opened in dotted lines, and the signal in one position in full lines and in another position in dotted lines, part of the closed door being broken away,

Fig. 2, is a sectional view on a longitudinal plane cutting through the end of the box, with the door closed and the signal in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3, is an end view of the nut lock and bolt, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bolt and spring with a modified form of nut.

Like reference characters indicate similar parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the box which is preferably cylindrical in form and made of galvanized sheet metal, one end being closed and the other end open axcept for a segment 2 to which is pivoted, by a bolt 3, a door 4c of a size to close the open portion of the end of the box.

A signal of any suitable form, in this instance shown as a body or arm 5, preferably of the same material as the box, having a bent up flange 6 along one edge to stiffen it, and having its outer end 7 at an angle to the body, is also pivoted on the bolt 3.

A spring 8 is coiled about the bolt between the end 2 of the box and an adjustable abutment, as a lock nut 10, on the inner end of bolt inside the box. The spring keeps the door and signal pressed against the segmental end 2 of the box with sufficient pressure to hold them in any positions to which they may be turned.

Any suitable lock nut may be used, two such being exemplified. In the form illus trated in Fig. 3, which construction is covered by my Letters Patent No. 1,157 ,81 1, granted October 21, 1915, the bolt 3 has a plurality of longitudinal grooves forming a plurality of longitudinal teeth 12 in any one of which may be engaged the end or tooth 13 of a locking element 14, which element is pivotally mounted in a bearing 15 having connection with the nut, the other arm, 16, of the locking element 14: being engaged with a keeper 17 to hold the tooth 13 in engagement with the tooth 12 of the bolt and thus prevent the nut from turning on the bolt. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the locking element, marked 1-1 is approximately U-shaped in cross section and receives the nut 10. Its opposite walls are provided with openings which register with the opening in the nut, and the bolt 3 extends through these openings. This element 14* has a lateral flange 15" which is split for a part of its length, and the split portion is bent to form a tooth 13 to engage either of the teeth 12 of the bolt 3. It will be noted that with either form of locking means, the nut may be tightened without disengaging the tooth 13 or the tooth 13 from the bolt. \Vhen is is desired to tighten the nut, the tooth 13 of the form shown in Fig. 3 or the tooth 13 of the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4:, according to which form is employed, is first disengaged from the bolt. This may be accomplished in the form of Fig. 3 by springing the arm 16 laterally out of engagement with the keeper 1'? and then turn ing the element 1 1 in its bearing 15 to lift the tooth 13 out of the groove in the bolt. In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the tooth 13 is sprung by hand out of the groove in the bolt. In both forms the teeth (13, 13*) are of spring metal.

The door may be opened to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 or closed from sald dotted position to the position shown in full lines in said figure, by turning it on or with the bolt 3, and it will be held in either position by the tension or friction created by the spring 8. I

The signal may also be turned to any desired position, as the position shown in full lines or that in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the different positions indicating that there is mail in. the box for the postman, or mail in the box for the owner of the box, or for any other desiredv purpose. In any position: to which it may be turned, the signal will be held by the tension or friction created by the spring 8.

At 18 I have shown, inside of the box, a coin holder, which may be of any desired construction, in this instance shown as. the holder illustrated and described in my Pat.- ent- No. 1,061,785, granted May 13, 1913.

My box is to be mounted upon a post as at 19 in Fig. 1 and for this purpose is provided with spaced straps or loops 22 to receive a suitable member 21 which is suitably supported from the post. In this particular exemplification, there are suitable plank head pieces 20 secured to the sides of the up per end of the post and projecting slightly above the top thereof and the member 21 is a plank or bar of a size to fit between the pieces 20. This member 21 is first slipped through straps or loops 22 and is then laid on topof the post between. the head pieces 20 and finally secured by means of suitable fasteni-ngs 23', such as bolts, nails, screws or the like. By removing these fastenings,the box may be freely lifted off the. top of the post when desirec.

Any suitable handle, such as the one shown at 24:, for example, may be secured tov the door for convenience in openingor closing it.

The construction and operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing but I desire it to bev known. that changes and variations may be made therein, within the terms of the appended claims,

without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim new is:

1. A mail box provided with a door and a signal both mounted to turn on the box on a single pivot, and means for creating friction between the door and box, and the door and signal when either the door or signal is moved on the pivot.

2. A mail box having a segmental member partially closing one end, a. door overlapping thechord-of thefsegmental member and closing the, rest of the end of the box, a signal resting against the door, a pivotal member passing through the segmental member, the door and the signal, and: means for yield ingly pressing the signal, the door and. the segmental member together...

3. A mail box provided with an opening, a door for closing the opening, a signal, a common pivoting and. holding means for the doorand signal, said. pivoting and holding means comprisinga pivot member connected withbotlr the door and signal and projecting therefrom, a spring mounted on the projecting. portion of the pivot and engaging the box at one end, a device adjustably mounted. on the pivotmember and: forming an. abutment for the other end of the spring, and means for locking said device in its adjusted position. upon the pivot member..

4, A mailv box. provided with a segmental closure leaving; the end partially open, a door for closing the opening, a. signal on the door, a. pivotal bolt connecting the door, closure and signal, a.- nut onthe bolt, and a spring on the bolt under the nut, whereby the door-,signal. and closure will be pressed yieldingly. together.

In: testimony whereof, I- have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. SHI'NN.

Ti-tnessesv J L A- FOWLER, R..J. SIIETLAR.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents; Washington, D. G. 

